Local community midwife Lynn Cowgill took the overall award for Midwife of the Year 2013 with Vicky Brown winning the Community Midwife of the Year and Kerry Athey the Hospital Midwife of the Year award which was collected on her behalf by her mum. The winners received their trophies and prizes from NCT President Sue Saxey and Chair of Bassetlaw Council, Coun Sybil Fielding. NCT President, Sue Saxey was thrilled to take part in the event. She said: “I was delighted to be at the finals of Bassetlaw’s Midwife of the Year awards and be a part of this wonderful new initiative.” “Events like this offer a great opportunity for our charity to forge closer relationships with local midwives and that ultimately benefits parents in the area.” “Congratulations again to all the amazing winners.” This is the first year that Bassetlaw NCT has run the Midwife of the Year awards and the team have been very pleased with the response. Sarah Whiting, chair of the Bassetlaw Branch, said: “We launched our Midwife of the Year awards because we wanted to do something to recognise our fantastic local midwives and the work they do.” “We had a great response from parents and heard some amazing stories about how midwives had supported them through happy and sad times.” “Congratulations again to our very worthy winners and thanks to all who supported us along the way.” The Bassetlaw branch of the NCT covers Worksop, Retford, Dinnington, Mansfield, Aston, Kiveton and Maltby. Also in attendance at the ceremony were the other finalists and their families, Coun Ian Campbell, Deirdre Fowler, Head of Midwifery at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals Foundation Trust and some of the parents who made nominations. The Branch hopes to run the awards on an annual basis. Further information is available on the Bassetlaw NCT website at www.nct.org.uk/branches/bassetlaw/midwife-year-award.